Sizzling start to East Bengal campaign

By Amitabha Das Sharma

CALCUTTA, DEC. 15. Kingfisher East Bengal tamed Manaksia Tollygunge Agragami, 2-0, in the latter's home ground at Rabindra Sarobar Stadium on Friday to begin its fifth National Football League campaign on a winning note. East Bengal-runner-up twice in the tournament-unleashed its title hunt in right earnest following a successful season which has earned it three out of four crowns it attempted.

Moreover, the team under the Dronacharya Syed Nayeemuddin has kept its undefeated domestic record in tact in the season so far and the win against Agragami was another show of East Bengal's' might in the local arena.

Now it is an opportunity for the team to make a bigger mark in the national scenario and East Bengal would definitely like to forget its semifinal loss against Mahindra United in the Durand Cup last month as it launched itself afresh for the big league. The start on Tuesday looked sincere but the efforts seemed to be tentative at times.

The first session of the match saw East Bengal launch its trademark offensive that had the Agragami defence opening up on more occasions than one. But both striker Dipendu Biswas and overlapping stopper-back Jackson let go an opportunity each in the first quarter of the play before captain Bijen Singh got himself into scoring in the 26th minute. Singh, manning the East Bengal attack alongside Biswas, availed a midfield floater from right-back Surkumar Singh and finished with a half-volley that spoke of both timing and accuracy.

Agragami, bringing back coach Amal Dutta after rejecting him early in the season, shunned its defensive approach and tried to match its opponent. But all the good work in the midfield by the combination of Abayomi Felix and Sasthi Duley was spoiled by the tardiness of its attackers, Tata Football Academy recruit Mohammad Qaiser and Nigerian Sereiki Abdulatief.

Missed opportunities separated both the teams as both shared the midfield action. While Singh scored for East Bengal, Qaiser misdirected an header on a cross in the 33rd minute to rob Agragami the chance of an equaliser.

Similar was the story in the second session. East Bengal consolidated its lead in the 51st minute as its promoted right- half, Suley Musah, headed in a rebound from a Bijen Singh shot to give his team the 2-0 cushion.

This had the red-and-gold brigade retreating into a defensive slot but Agragami failed to take advantage from the situation and its goal-shyness continued.

The second session raised the prospects for Agragami as it gained control over the midfield but the resulting aggression was nixed by the fumbling in the penalty area. Qaiser saw his feeble half- volley saved on the goalline by East Bengal stopper-back Dipak Mondal in the 61st minute while Sereiki failed to beat the East Bengal custodian Nasim Akhtar in the 73rd minute despite finding himself unmarked on the goalmouth.

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Section  : Sport
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